Keepers on standby if Wade fails

Darren Berry

THERE has been much written in recent times about the glovework of national first-choice keeper Matthew Wade and undoubtedly he faces his biggest test when he heads to India in a few weeks.

The tour has the potential to make him or break him as the 10-year keeper that Ian Healy and Adam Gilchrist became.

India presents tough conditions in which to keep wickets, not only scrapping around over the top of the stumps to the spinners, but also standing back to the quicks. In India the ball regularly loses its pace and dips before settling in the gloves.

Wade will need Steve Rixon, the fielding coach and a former Test keeper himself, on his wing every day supporting and guiding him.

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Wade is a tough nut with a cheeky disposition, a common thread in most wicketkeepers. He is street smart and most times will find a way around a problem.

Healy gave a candid assessment of Wade's recent troubles. It's Healy's job now in the media to offer his critique, especially when asked.

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What choice did he have? Should he have lied and suggested everything in the keeping garden was rosy when blind Freddie could see that Wade has had a difficult initiation?

No one is questioning what Wade offers, but as the national gloveman he must improve.

The debate in cricket circles is, if not Wade, then who is the best keeper in the land?

Brad Haddin in NSW could be considered unlucky when the selectors moved to Wade, and he still has the game both in front of the stumps and most importantly behind the stumps to be included at short notice.

At 35, a role as understudy in India or the Ashes seems improbable, but it could happen.

The forgotten man in the keeping debate is the second string in Sydney, but make no mistake Peter Nevill is a quality keeper-batsman. His star was so bright last summer that he was called to the West Indies tour on standby for Wade when Haddin went home for family reasons.

Nevill may need to move to another state if Haddin plays on with the gloves next summer

Tasmanian Tim Paine is now back in the mix after his horrific career-threatening hand injury and he's starting to perform again. Timing can be cruel, as two years ago he was undoubtedly the man in waiting.

His glovework is tidy and his temperament is good. Don't be surprised if he is the understudy to Wade. He is a smooth mover with soft hands and the next in line if Wade were to stumble.

Tim Ludeman in Adelaide has won the most improved trophy this year and is starting to show his true ability in front of the timbers. He has always had a beautiful pair of hands and in my somewhat biased opinion the most pure gloves in the country.

He is slick over the top, where glovework is ultimately judged. He has made some outstanding stumpings and catches standing up this summer. When standing back he is athletic, and he's held on to some amazing diving catches.

He is coming hard; another impressive summer next year should have him applying serious pressure. Australia A selection in the off-season is within his sights.

Chris Hartley in Brisbane is a solid performer in both disciplines.

Like many Queensland keepers, he is very good standing back, keeping on the fast bowler-friendly Gabba strip where nicks are more regular than a teenager shaving for the first time.

Standing over the stumps to quality spin is a rare thing for him and may be his only drawback at the next level. He is a great competitor and would never let you own if called on for higher honours.

These are the main candidates if Wade drops the ball, so to speak, in India, but there are also two smokies to keep an eye on: Peter Handscomb in Victoria and Tom Triffitt, who was strangely omitted this week from the West Australian side.

Handscomb is a class act with the bat and although a reluctant gloveman at the start of the year, he is developing nicely. He was very tidy during the week in Adelaide and took a quality low grab off a reverse swinging ball to dismiss Johan Botha.

Apologies to Bobby Quiney, Michael Hussey and Australian Test and one-day international keeper Phil Hughes.

This trio have donned the gloves recently but are not yet ready to step up to a full-time role.

Quiney's take while standing up to the stumps at the MCG in the Big Bash League will live in my memory forever.

Never again will we see a keeper take the ball so cleanly in the grill of his helmet - straight off the wicket, with no deflections.